Article posted: 11/17/2012 7:00 AM

China embraces Twitter age at Mao-style conclave

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A Chinese man uses a computer Tuesday at the press center of the 18th Communist Party Congress in Beijing. During China's last party congress, the cadres in charge of the world's most populous nation didn't know a hashtag from a hyperlink. But five years later, there's a new message from Beijing: The political transition will be microblogged.

associated press

The microblog of Mao Zedong's grandson Mao Xinyu is displayed on a computer screen Tuesday at the press center of the 18th Communist Party Congress in Beijing.

associated press

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During China's last party congress, the cadres in charge of the world's most populous nation didn't know a hashtag from a hyperlink. But five years on, there's a new message from Beijing: The political transition will be microblogged. Party officials have this fall embraced social media with unprecedented enthusiasm, hoping it can help guide public opinion and stir up excitement about the staid and scripted party meeting taking place this week in Beijing that kicks off a transition to a new, younger set of top leaders.